Gear-shift mechanism



May 3 ,1927. 1,626,974

B. F. SCHMIDT GEAR SHIFT iMECHANISM Fixed Nov. s; 1920 s sneeuwman. 2

B. F. SCHMIDT GEAR SHIFT MECHANIsu -l May 3,1921. I 1,625,974

med Nov. 5. 192o s sheets-shoot. 3

. -1- 626 974 May. 3 1927' a. F. SCHMIDT GEAR SHIFT MECHANISM Filed Nov. 5, 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 y f 7 a. F. SCHMIDT GEAR SHIFT MECH-ANISM Filed Nov. '5. 1920 6 Sheetnpshoat 5 @fifl l a 451?;auml May 3, 1927-.

UNITED STATES PATENT-QFFICE! BENJAMIN r.- sc imrnr, or sourir usuaria, onnrromrra.

unan-sinrrxnonamsiit.'

Application `led November 3,A 1920. Serial No. 421,581. i

This invention relates-to improvements in i gear shifts and refers moreparticularly .to a mechanism for effecting the different speed' changes in vehicles using a selective type transmission' for producing speed changes.'

lAmongiti-i salient objects are to provide a shift mechanism which effects the gear change in a selective speed transmission with the pushing down of the clutch pedal and disengagement of the clutch; .to provide a gear change mechanism that is positive 1n its operation and one that Ipermits 4of the mesh- 'ing of the gears in shifting by feeling the gears into `engagement by proper, pressure of the drivers foot on the clutch pedal;

' to provide a gear shift mechanism that. `is

. operated automatically with the'actuation of the clutch pedal, the -desired speed 'change having been previously selected by a smalllever mounted on the steering post,'or o er'- ated by using the common type of gear s ift lever inserted into an engagement sl'otand 4 the'shift made by hand in theusual manner;

to provide a mechanism that registers autos vniatically .the speed in' which lthe transmission is geared or whether 1t is in .a neutral position. a mechanism that provides a neutral position for eachs eed effected by a partial throw of the clutc i pedal; to pnovide mechanism tliat'is cheap to manufacture in that the parts may be made stamped from the metal intothe desired shapesand'forms;

' fzi to provide a shift that advances progressive-v A l ly through therespe'c'tive vgear changes, but

Wthevspeeds from high to reverse.

may be operated selectively in coming down ln the drawings: Fig.' 1 1s a side elevational view showing i i' the interior 'liiechanism of the shift.

'fof' ihc'gear mechanism4 cut away -the interior parts.

Fig. 2 isa. rear end view with the casing to expose I f Fig. 3 is aview similar to -tliat in Fig.

2 ivith interior imita-'shown in'Fig. 2, omit- 4 ted to disclose the shifter arm mechanism.

Fig. lv 'is adctail of the squared'shaft and sleeve membersfor the hand -lever attach! ment Figs. 5 and Glare fi'agineiitaryidetails of.

the pivotedshifter arms.. .w' v F ig. 7 isa planview showing the interior mechanism of the shifter. v

vmounted on the steering'postf l car is running.

device. Fig.10 is a mechanism. Fig. 11 .isa plan view of arportion of the tion of mounting the shift and appartenant parts. v

Fig. 12 gagement of the lower extremities of .the

shifter forks.

Figs 13l and 14 are details of as device shown' at ,the lower end of these ector rod manipulated by Referring to the drawings, the shift may be mounted in any convenient position onl the transmission casing of a vehicle usingthe selective type transmission. rl`he shift mechanism or casing 1, must be so mounted upon the transmission casing that the shifter forks vievir showing the interlocking l is a fragmentary detail of the en' Figs. 'Sand are detailsoflthe selector chassis of an automobile showing the posieo' i Ashifter arms with the flanged lugs ofthe l handle l. VVA'I0 i2 and engage the two sliding gears in the transmission casing (not shown) which when moved todiffe'rent positions produce the various speeds.l The shifter fork 2 controls the gear producing reverse and low speeds While the shifter fork 3 'regulates' both intermediate and high.- These shifter forks are constructed with flanged lugs 4 and 5 which slide in the slots Gand ,7 in the lov'ver plate 8 of .the 'shifter mechanism. flanges 9' and 10 of there'epective shifter fork lugs'are notched at 11 to accommodate the i I i wedge shaped ortion' of the pivoted'locking members 12. hese locking members 12 are pivoted on either side of the flanges at 13and 'are kept in contact with them by` springs 14. (See Fig. 10.) Thus, when a gear has been selectedand the shift made, this lock-w ing member vvill. hold the shifter fork in The upper place until another shift is affected. An in? i terlock 15 transversely slidable in a block 16 and engaging out out portions -17 and upon the neutralizer.

18 in the respective flanges, serve to hold the shifter fork whieh is not being shifted in a rigid position while the other' is being moved.

The shifter meehanism itselll comprises` a pluralityof pi voted arms 19. a shifter frame 20, a selector 21. a selector guide 22. slidably mounted on a lguide support 23, a series of guides 24 for pivoted arms 19, a neutralizer 25 and a slidable latch member 26 inounled rlhe pivoted arms 19, 19a, 19h and 19 are extensions of two sets of interconnected members 2T. 2S. 29 and 39. r1`he lower extensions 91 and 32 of the members 27 and 29 are shaped to fit into slots 33, and 31, in the respective shifter fork lugs L1 and 5 and by their movement operate the shifter forks to produce the ,gear etrange in the transmission easing. The member 27 eomprises the lower extension 31 which lits into the lug of the shifter fork, and a turn back portion 35 which together with the main portion of the member is secured upon the shaft 36 by means of Woodruff key 1n the extremity of the turn-back portion 35 is a pin 38 which pivots the same to the bent-back portion 39 of the member 28 the latter engaging the pin by means of a slot 49 eut in itsextremity. 1n the member 27 is also cut a slot 41 which is in the form of an arco of a cirele aceomniodating the shaft 42 which extends therethrough and permits the movement of the member 2T on its pivot 3G. The member 28 which is pivoted to freely roelt upon the shaft 12 has an arm 19a identical to the npst-anding` arm 19 of the member 27. These arms eaeh have an upward and downward movement between the guide members 24. 1t is obvious that by moving either of the arms 19 or 19*L said movement will be transmitted to the extension 31 of the member 27 through 'the pin connection 38 of the two interconnected portions of the two members. lt will further be evident that as the arm 2T with its turn back portion 35 reeks with the shaft 86, and

as the arm 28 with its bent-beek portion is freely7 pivoted on the lower shaft 42, the intermediate pin and slot Connect-ion 38 and 40 will cause the arms 19 and 19a to move simultaneously in opposite directions; that is, whenever one of the arms 19, 19a moves upwardly, the other thereof will move down-V noaa-,eea

of an are similar to that shown at 4:1 in the member 2T to accommodate the shaft 42. The member il() is pivoted to freely rock upon the shaft `12 in the same manner as the member 29. Also the movements of the upslanding shifter arms 19h and 19c are transmitted (in the same manner as above eX- plaiwned in connection with the arms 19 and,19) through the pin connection 4G ot' the interroni'iectedhportions of tbe members 39 and 29 to the lower extremity 512 of the member :'29 which fits in the slot Iii of the ilaneed member 9. lhe shifter fork C011- trolling' the intermediate and high gears being' a part of this` flange. is moved to positions of engagement or disengagement with the low or higi'h gears aeeordingsvto its movement. i

In Figs. 1. 2 and 4. the several arms 19 to 19C are shown in their neutral positions and particularly in Figs. 1 and 10, the gear shifting forks are also shown in neutral positons. Assuminga that the arm 2T shifts the fork 2 rearwardly7 (to the left in Fig. l) for reverse and forwardly for low, and that the arm 29 shifts the fork 8 rearwardly for intermediate and forwardly for high, it will be evident, with reference' to Figi 2, that-an elevation of the arm 19 bythe 'selector-2l will throw the fork actuating` arm 2T rearwardly and shiftthe forl 2 to reverse position. t the same time the arm 19a will be lowered due to its intermediate pin and slot connection with the arm 2T. Similarly. when the arm 19a is elevated the arm 19 will be lowered and will throw the fork actuating arm 2T forwardly and sh" the fork 2 to low position. The respective ments of the arms 19" :uid 19C are; identieal" to those of the arms 1.9 and 19a vto throw' the forli actuating arm 29 rearwardly or forwardly to shiftl the fork 3 to intermediate or high positions.

lt will be noted at this time that the member 27 is pivoted on the shaft 3G while the member 29 is pivoted on the square sleeve 14 rotatably mounted upon 'the shaft' 2365i 'lhe shafts 3G and '12 are both rotatably mounted in 'the gear shift casingr 1Q fr lug 17 is tixedly attached tothe sleeve tel and a similar lug 48 is liz-:ed to the shaft 36. 'lhese lugs have cut-out portions 49 which permit the vertically pivoted hand lever 59 te be moved from engagement with one of the eut-out portions to the other." lWhen the lever is 'in a position shown in Fig'. 3;'in engagement with the lug; 47, the aetnation of the hand lever will rotate the sleeve 44 transmittingl this motion to the shifter forli 3 thereby controlling the transmission mechanism in intermediate and high gear. lWhen the lever is moved into ene'agement 'with the lng 119., its operationwill aetuate the shifter vl'orlr 2 and operate to shift the transmission in reverse and low gears. A

, which contains a coil spring 63.

' otf connecting plate 69.

verted to a simple hand shift in common use at this time. y

Prior to making the gear change by means of the clutch pedal, it is necessary that the proper gear be. chosen and in order to do this there is mounted upon the steeringr post 53 a `quadrant 5l which has apertures cut in the periphery ther-cotl corresponding with the ditcrcnt gear changes in the transmission. it selector handle 56 is secured at 57 to a rod 57a journalcd in the quadrant and has an upstandinhr lug in which is4 fitted a button 59 held in contact with the uadrant by means of springl` tt) and forcing t ie button into the respective apertures corresponding with the diti'erent gear changes with the rotation of the handle upon its pivot- The function of this button is to hold the selector handle in a position when a gear has been selected. The rod 5T upon which the handle is 'mounted extends along),- the steering post and substantially parallel thereto and is pivotally mounted in a bearing;- lnember 61. To the lower portion ot this rod 57':l is attached a disc like casing (i2 Both ends ot this coil sprin r abut on the two sets of stop pins 641- and (35. lVithin this casing' and adjustably fixed to the rod 5T by means ot a set screw is a lever arm (it upon which is fixed a narrow lug' 67. On the rotation ot' Athe rod 57 the lug upon the lever arm Gti will pass between either ot the stop -*iins according to the direction ot' rotation and abut against the end ot' the coil spring;1 thereby imposing a springtension upon the lever arl'n. To the lever arm G6 is attached a still wire (37 passing through a hollow tube (3S to the shit't mechanism. This wire is attached to the -selector guide 22 by means This selector guide is slidably mounted upon the `a'uide rod 23 and may be moved Jfrom side to side across the gear shift mechanism in the selection ot the gears. The extremity ot the guide 22 rides in a slot 7() running transversely ot the trear shiftmechanism. The function `ot this slotted guide is to stitl'en the construction and hold the guide. in position. The guide 22 is longitudinally slotted to permit the raised lug 71 ot' the selector 21 to slide back and Jforth therein with the movement ot' the frame 20. By sliding the guide to the internal gear 8() is rotated causing the any position desired by means of the hand lever through the connections explained, the selector is moved due to the sliding engagement ot' the lirer 71 and slot ol the guide,

to aposition substantially in vertical align- 704 ment with any one ot the shifter arms 19, 19, 19h or 19" so that when the frame 20 is actuated, the arm chosen` according to the selective positioning of the selector will be contacted by said selector. The. selector 21 com- 75 prises a triangular shaped projection 72 and an upper' lug 71 its intermediate portion being` a narrow flanged construction 73 slidably mounted in a slot 74 inthe shifter frame 20. The shifter fra-me is a U-shaped member havingboth 4ends tixedly attached toa-nd pivoted upon the shaft 42. The frame 2O abuts upon a support 75 which has a T-shape, the cross member of said T providing the.

abutment tor the frame and the longitudi- S5 nally extending leg76 supportingthe guides 24 and slotted to permit the projection of the arms 19, 19, 19" and 19 therethrough. lnside o't' this shifter trame '20 isa smaller U-l'rame or neutralizer 25 which has its two 90 -ends rotatably mounted upon the shaft 42.

This neutralizer abuts upon an angle plate 77 in one positlon and against the t'ront of the shifter arms when the frame 20 1s actuated to atl'ect the gear change. Extending 95 transversely of the gear shit't mechanism and'through two slotted apertures 78 in both legsof the neutralizer is a latch 26 havin anelong'ated head 2611. This latch isv helil in position in the neutralizer by a flat spring 26" which is riveted to one of the lower legs ot the neutralizer and tits into a slot in the body of the latch. This spring keeps the elongated head 26 in contact with 'the ad joininglug of the neutralizershown in Fig.

7. An S-plate 79 lined to leg of the larger shifter frame contacts the elongated head ot the latch member thuscarrying the neutrahzer with the shifter traine when itin 0 Describing now the actuation of the shiftv y is actuated by the clutch pedal.

c1' Trame upon its pivot 42 subsequent to the selection ot' the desired gear by means of the- .selector 21.. attention will be directed tothe fact that the frame is ixedly attached to the shaft t2 which extends outside ofthe ear shitting;l casinff. On the end of this siaft extension is a pinion 80.. This pinion isset, mounted that when the clutch pedal S51-pivoted at 82 is pushed down disengaging the clutch, the teeth 83 which are' internally milled on they sector 84. the latter being part v ot the clutch pedal and pivotedat 82, mesh,

sha t't. 42 to rotate in the direction shownby the arrows. A port-ion of this internal surface. of the 'sector 84 asshownat 85 is not milledwi-th gear teeth thereby permitting the clutch pedal to be partiallypushed down and the clutch released before" the gear 130 y "chang'eis affected, this latter taking place when the pinion 8O is rotated by meshing with the internal gear teeth 83. The rotation of this shaft act-Hates the Jframe member -which by means ot the selector contacting one ot' the shifter arms produces a gear change.

The neutralizer which is carried by the .t-ion dueto a previous gear selection brings them all to a neutral position, as shown 1n Figs. 2 and 3. At this time the elongated head'QG is contacted by the wedge 86 and moved outwardly against. the tension ot' the spring 26" until the head has moved -t'ar enough so that the S-plate 7 9 may pass by it thus releasing the neutralizer from the' shifter frame." The shl'tter frainemvith con-- tinued rotation on its pivot 42 contacts, by

means of the selector, the selected shifter arm and elevates the same to its extreme position `at which time t-.hedesired gear change is affected. In returning, the shifter trainen'iust again be positioned relative to the neutralizerso that with ay subsequent shift the neutralizer will be in ,a position to hring'the shifter arms again to neutral. That, is, the head of the latch must be again in a position in front of the S-plate'so that with the actuation of the shifter frame the neutralizer will be carried with it. Therefore as the shifter frame returns 'to'its initial position or that which it assumes .when the clutch pedal has been released and the clutch engaged, the opposite end of the latch `from that'on which the head is mounted contacts a beveled portion 86 on the adjoining leg of the shifter trame 20. This slides' t-helatch member transversely so that the S-plate 79 will pass the elongated head' and again assume a position behind the neutralizcr. iVith the passing of the frame 20 the latch due to the spring will again assume a normal position as shown in Fig. 7. Thus f in its movement upand down theframe will lcarry the neutralizer to a position where the latter brings the shifter arms to a neutral position, then releases the neutralizer and at#l fects the shift and on its return operates the latch so that the shifter traine will again be positioned in its initial position relative to the neutralizcr. Y Between the tivo lugs ot' the shifter trame extending transversely ot the shift casing is a bar 87 having two stop projections 88 and 89. T he function of these stop projections is to produce a progressive selection of gears lfront of this box is fitted a glass mesma when shifting from low to high. More specitically assume that the vehicle is standing Aand the transmission mechanism is in a neutral position. On entering the car, the driver lmay immediately select high gear with the selector lever on the steering post. This compresses the circular coil spring and puts a tension upon the lever arm 66 which tension has a constant tendency to pull the selector guide and selector toward high gear. This spring tension causes the selector to be moved against the stop projection 88. The driver has now to push out the .clutch pedal which act-uates thc shifter frame movin the selector forward into the slot occupie by the shifter arm 19a. The operation of this arm through connections previously explained mesl'ies the gears producing low speed in the transmission. pedal is released and the shifter frame returned to its initial position against the abutting stop 7 5 the selector returning therewith Will slide out ot' the slot in which the low speed shifter arm is positioned and due to the spring tension on the coil spring Will drop against the next stop projection 89. rlhen Withoutl further movin# of the selector lever on the steering post, the clutch pedal may be again pushed down at which time the clutch is disengaged and the shifter trame will carry the selector into the nexty adjoining slot in Which the intermediate shifter arm 191? operates. By again engaging the clutch the selector will ride over the stop projection 89 due to the spring tension previously vmentioned and move int-o a position'to be' advanced into the slot in which the high speed shifter arm 19 rides; thus,

the successive shifts from reverse or neutral to highv gear may be made progressively by .simply advancing the selector lever arm on the steering post tothe high speed position i and then manipulating the clutch pedal as explained as the car gathers its speed. In coming down from high to a lower gear or even to reverse, the selector will dropv over the stop projections and preselection of any gear may be accomplished in a selective manner contrasted with i the progressive manner ot advancing by simply selecting the gear on the steering post and etiecting it by means ot the clutch pedal.

For' the purpose of registering the gear change ,which has been selected or that which is in mesh, I astento each of the flanged lugs 9 and l() stiff wires 90 and 91; These Wires pass through a tube 92 and terminate in a box-like casing 93 mounted upon the dash of the vehicle not shown. In the late 94 `which exposes an oblong portion o the interior. ln the back of the box is ixedan oblong plate of substantially the same size as the front window 94 upon which is written neutraL At the top of the wire 90 is As vthe clutchlll() i high gear from reverse and low and a mounted a sign-plate 95 which is shifted to a position before -the window 9i when the gears are shifted in low. A similar signplate 9G is mounted somewhat lower upon the wire 90 and' when the gears are meshed to produce reverse speed this sign-plate is in a position before the window 94 and easily visible from the drivers scat. ln the same manner the .sign-plates JT denoting high and 98 denoting intermediate are mounted upon 'the wire 91 and adapted to be exposed when the corresponding gears are meshed to produce that speed. When either sign-plate is in position before the window 9 4 it will cover the neutral plate. which is fixedly mounted in the back of the casing. With this simple device the driver is at all times informed of the gear speed which he has in mesh and can make his shifts accordingly.

This device, as explained, may be mounted in any position upon the transmission easing so that the shifter forks will engage the slidable gears whose movement makes the different gear changes in the transmission. 1n the drawings, the mechanism is shown mounted on top of the gear shift casing.

By means of this shift mechanism the driver is relieved of all inconvenience due to the manipulation of the hand lever in shifting vgears and has his hands free at all times for steering the vehicle. The shift is positive in that it is effected as the clutch pedal is pushed down and by the gear arrangement meshed directly with the toothed sector lixedly attached to the t'readle of the clutch the driver may feel the gears into engagement.. It will be noted in this connection that the shift does not rely upon the clutch spring or any associated spring for making the gear change and also that the change is made as the clutch pedal is pushed down and not as it returns to position when the clutch is reengaged. In addition to ,this the 4ratchet arrangement which permits a preselection of subsequent shift by successive aetuations of the clutch pedal is a decided improvement. 'lhis ratchet permits of progressively shifting when advancing from low to high gear and a selective change in coming down from high to low. An advantage too in the construction of the device is thatmost of the parts may b e made from stampings and no machine Work is required thus making the de.- vice very cheap to build.

In the details of construction of this mechanism, Vl'. do not wish to limit myself to the specific construction shown except as set forth in the appended claims.

l claim as my invention:

l. ln a gear shift mechanism. thc combinai tion of: gear shifting forks; intcrconnccted shifter arms for actuating cach fork; a shifter frame; a selector member translatable on said frame to positions before any of said shifter arms and adapted to operate the same with the operation of the shifter frame; a .shifter frame, operating means; means for imposing translating tension upon the selector member; and means positioned relative to the selector member to insure a progressive shifting from reverse to high driving speeds with successive operations of.A

the shifter frame.

2. ln a gear shift mechanism, the combination ofz'gear shifting forks; pivotally mounted interconnected shifter arms for actuating each fork; a shifter frame operated by the clutch pedal; a selector member translatable on said frame to positions before any of said shifter arms and adapted to operate the same with the operation of the shifter frame; nieansioperable from the drivers seat for imposing. spring tension upon the selector member in pre-selecting a desired gear change; and stop means positioned relative to the selector member for determining and directing an advancing progressive shifting of the gears by successive actuations of the clutch pedal until the desired change has been effected.

3. ln a gear shift mechanism, the Combination of: gear shifting forks; pivoted interconnected shifter' arms for actuating each fork; a shifter frame operated by the clutch pedal; a selector member translatable on said frame to positions corresponding to the speed change selected and adapted to operate the selected shifter arm with the operation ofthe shifter frame; means operable :from the drivers seat for imposing spring tension upon the selector member in pre-selecting a desired gear change; and means positioned relative to the selector member for determining and directing the gear shifting progressively in advancing from reverse to high driving speeds and selee-tivelyv in retarding from high to reverse speeds.

l. In a gear shift mechanism, the combination of: gear shifting forks; pivoted interconnected shifter arms for actuating each fork; a shifter frame operated by the clutch pedal; aselector member translatable on said frame and adapted to be selectively positioned relative to the shifter arm corresponding to the desired speed change and` to actuate the same with the operation of the shifter frame; a neutralizer detachably engaged to and operated A,with the shifter frame through a part of its actuation to neutralize the shifter arms prior to the consomation of a selected gear change; and means for cll'ecting progressive gear changesI with a single pre-selection and successive actuations of the clutch pedal. i

.'i. ln a gear shift mechanism, the comhination of: a gear shifting means; interconnected shifter arms connected therewith; a shifter framc opel-ably connected willi the 'ations of the clutch pedal.

`6. Ina gear shift mechanism, the combination of:- gear shifting means; shifter arms for actuating said gear shifting means; a:- shifter lframe connected with the clutch pedal and actuated thereby; a selector mounted on said shifter frame; means for positioning said selector member to aetuate predetermined shifter arms; and means for effecting progressive gear speed changes by a single setting of the selector positioning Legame means and successive actuations .of the clutch pedal. l

7. In a gear Shift mechanism, the combination of: a pair of shifter forks; means for actuating said forks, said means comprising pivotally mounted shifter arms connected with said forks, aY Shaft, a shifter frame on said shaft,a selector sldable ou said frame and a gear secured to said shaft;

a clutch 'pedal adapted for an initial movement independent of said gear, for disengaging the clutch; and a toothed member normally out of mesh with said gear and movable Withv said pedal, lsaid toothed member being arranged to operate idly during such clutch `disengaging operation and to subsequently engage and operate said gear during a continued depression of the clutch pedal to effect a gear change.

BENJAMIN F. SCHMIDT. 

